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| [Social Media Logos. Image found on Internet]
Back
in December 2014, I wrote a blog titled: “Online
Privacy and Fake Memories” [http://snapshotsandproject365.blogspot.com/2014/12/online-privacy-and-fake-memories.html].
It
was due to the fact that in December 2014; a friend (L) had called out someone about
a photo, supposedly back from the late70’s/early 80’s – which you can read about
on the above referenced blog. Turns out the kids photo was STOLEN from a
November 2014 blog. Even though the photo was backdated to 2008, on Facebook …
anyone can do that with their feature.
A
mutual friend (R) stated: “wrong, but not
really a big issue to worry about” in regards to the other friend’s
concern about the misuse of someone else’s photos.
Unfortunately,
as we saw in the case of the kids skiing photo, it didn’t stop there and was
not a victimless crime. It never really is; and it isn’t stopping either. As “L”
said – there are children involved in this that have no say.
It’s
called “Digital Kidnapping” or “Cyber Kidnapping”. Unfortunately it is a grey
(gray) area for law enforcement. Many of the laws on the books haven’t kept up
with the technology advances. Nevada just recently passed a specific law on “squatting”
(you can either research it or I will talk about it later).
As
I stated in the above blog, under an update, this was mentioned on the Today
show on 2/27/2015 [http://www.today.com/video/today/57041622#57041622]. It was even
mentioned in a news article: http://www.fox8live.com/story/28189979/digital-kidnapping-a-growing-trend
Here
is an April 2015 WHNT 19 (Huntsville, AL) news article excerpt:
“A
disturbing new trend is spreading across social media. People on social media
are stealing photos of other people’s children. It's called "digital
kidnapping."
The
term "digital kidnapping" may seem embellished to some, but the
victims who have pictures of their children stolen are left wondering why
someone would do this -- and what else are they capable of?” (Riopka, 2015).
You can read more here: “Digital
Kidnapping: Madison family finds their child targeted by online photo thief”
[http://whnt.com/2015/04/27/digital-kidnapping-madison-family-finds-their-child-targeted-by-online-photo-thief/].
Still
not convinced enough?
Yesterday
(May 12th, 2016), part two of a Dr. Phil episode featured a family
confronting the “digital kidnapper”. Warning … it is QUITE disturbing.
Here’s
the synopsis:
“Did a Stranger ‘Cyber Hijack’ a Couple’s Twins? A
Side-By-Side Photo Comparison.
April and Nathan claim a total stranger has been stealing photos
of their 4-year-old daughters and posting them as their own on social media.
In fact, they claim a woman named Ashley has stolen hundreds of
photos of the girls since they were born and has reposted them as if she were
their own mother.”
(link will be at the bottom of the blog).
Scary,
isn’t it?
I’ll
post links to the Dr. Phil videos. But, I do urge EVERYONE to read my previous
blog on it and WATCH the videos that I’ll link to later on.
In
another blog … “Social Media and Intellectual Property Theft” [http://snapshotsandproject365.blogspot.com/2015/01/social-media-and-intellectual-property.html]
I stated the following: “Another point
that was made was that the person who shared a photo that wasn’t theirs – they
weren’t the first or last person to do it, that it is a sign of the times and
it won’t change.”
As
a friend and I discussed, unless it happens to those kinds of people … they don’t
seemingly care. That’s the attitude that is going to keep it going and keep it
being “no big deal”.
There
is something emotionally disturbing about people who want to “steal” someone
else’s life or kids for an online profile. What’s worse is when they’re
confronted … they first continue the lie, perpetuate the lie, then without
emotion say “I didn’t mean you any harm” – as if that’s supposed to give the
victim the warm, fuzzy feeling. As if the victim is expected to say “oh, you
poor thing”.
In
the Dr. Phil case, the digital kidnapper (Ashley) is not really remorseful (her
lack of a real apology is apparent) and tries to keep the charade going. She
was asked by the real father of the kids (Nathan) to delete the photos some
three years ago – Ashley kept going on, even up to April 1st of this
year.
Then,
on Dr. Phil, her attitude reflects that she is supposed to be forgiven and “doesn’t
know why” she printed the photos and continued the charade. Watch the videos.
If
you (the reader) want to know how serious this is (and can be), picture this
scenario … if you will:
Doris
is a lovely, but lonely 56 year old lady. But, very lonely. She (in order to
combat the loneliness) makes up a story (after seeing a happy couple with two
kids) that she has custody of her two grandkids because their parents died in a
car crash.
She
shares pictures of her two grandkids (Janie and James) online and talks about
them constantly. As to why she isn’t in the picture with them? She says “oh, I
don’t take pictures of myself, they’re far more important to me after
everything they’ve been through”.
Her
online friend Mary sees Janie and James with another couple (at Disneyland).
Mary calls the cops because Doris is their grandma and their parents died … so
this couple must’ve kidnapped them, right? What is this couple doing with Doris’
grandkids? She didn’t say anything about the trip. After all the kids have been
through, why would Doris not take them herself?
Well
… what if Doris has been lying? What if she, like Ashley did, digitally
kidnapped Janie and James by stealing pictures from their parents’ social media
pages and reposted them as her grandkids?
And,
what would happen to Doris, Mary, the parents, and the kids when this is
uncovered?
See
what kind of trouble that can cause? Any wonder that back in December 2014 I
posted two blogs on the seriousness of this?
Now,
some might argue that perhaps Doris’ family might speak out. What if she has no
family to speak of, or is using an alias herself? How would we really know?
Here’s
the set of videos from the Dr. Phil episodes. They are in order according to the
website and “article”.
PART
ONE: “I Believe A Stranger Is Obsessed
With My Beautiful Twin Daughters and Has ‘Cyber Hijacked’ Them!” [http://www.drphil.com/shows/i-believe-a-stranger-is-obsessed-with-my-beautiful-twin-daughters-and-has-cyber-hijacked-them/;
May 11, 2016]:
“Mother Accuses Stranger Of ‘Digitally
Kidnapping’ Her 4-Year-Old Twin Daughters”
“Did a
Stranger ‘Cyber Hijack’ A Couple’s Twins? A Side-By-Side Photo Comparison”
“Woman Responds To Allegations She Digitally
Stole Photos Of Couple’s Twins & Posted Them As If They Were Her Own
Children”
“Parents Confront Woman Accused Of ‘Cyber
Hijacking’ Their 4-Year-Old Twins”
PART
TWO: “Will Ashley Confess”
“Parents Question How Framed Photos Of Their
Daughters Wound Up In Stranger’s Home”
“Woman Apologizes For ‘Digitally Kidnapping’
Couple’s Twin Girls: ‘I Really Don’t Mean You Guys Any Harm’”
“How a
Woman Used Social Media And Her Deceased Mother To Perpetuate A Story About
Having Twins”
I
apologize if this blog is almost like a newspaper (or magazine) to read. I urge
everyone to watch the videos above and follow basic steps for protecting one’s
family. What do I do?
1.)
I don’t allow many people access to my account. Not because I don’t have
several requests – I don’t know some of these people. I am not going for a “most
friends of all time” award. I want to know and interact with REAL people. If
they’re not someone I know (either we have a mutual friend; I’ve really met
them; or I can vet them) – I say “NO” to that friend request.
2.)
I am not comfortable allowing people to know where I live – after all, I don’t
know some of these people. I keep my Facebook LOCKED down by posting all “sensitive”
stuff to only those who have my address or who I’d let know where I live (family,
close friends).
3.)
I am not about to let strangers know when I am not going to be at home. So, I
keep that only for family (cousins, uncle, and my mom) and a few friends (who
are just as close as my family). That’s who I’m going to also show my vacation
posts to and pictures of my kids to. It also cuts down on potential suspects.
4.)
Watermark photos with something. Keep the originals in a safe place other than
a computer (flash drive works well and if you can on DVD, holds more than a CD).
Try to be accurate with the file dates.
5.)
Watch out for groups on Facebook. Predators can lurk here – which is obviously
what happened to the Willis family.
6.)
Never refer to kids by full name in a public post. Use Twin/Triplet #1;
Daughter #1; DD (dear daughter) #1; kid#1 (if family has multiple boys and
girls). Things like that. Also don’t reveal real birthdays.
7.)
Watch the frequency and type of postings.
I
said the following in another blog, but true here …
8.)
Don’t be available in search on Facebook
9.)
Set “friend requests” to “Friends of Friends”
10.)
Maintain the strictest possible privacy on Facebook and Twitter
A.) Don’t be afraid to have lists on
Facebook
B.) Don’t be afraid to de-friend or
block on Facebook
C.) Don’t be afraid to contact
authorities either
D.) Don’t be afraid to have one public
Twitter and one “family only” account. FYI: I think Twitter needs to have a
family only list or option.
11.)
If anything seems suspicious – REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY!!! Don’t forget to do your
homework, take screenshots, keep emails.
As
I said in a previous blog:
“Just
because something has been done (and repeatedly) doesn’t mean we should allow
it to continue. We can take precautions by limiting what we do online to impact
that privacy. We can make reports against people as well.
I
don’t think we can stop it entirely, but there is nothing wrong with being
vigilant about it and educating our friends to being a bit more cautious
online.”
But,
we should encourage legislators to pass stricter laws and penalties. Laws are
useless without enforcement.
I
do urge people to exercise as much caution as possible. And, as I also said:
This
is not just a "minor" matter. This crime has a name. And, there are
victims. And, those victims may be too young to speak for themselves.
|
Friday, May 13, 2016
Online Safety with Kids and Digital Kidnapping
Thursday, January 28, 2016
“High Flight” – The Challenger, Pepcon, Myself, and a Rocket
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| [Collage photo of my "rocket" from 8th grade. Photos taken by me, and collage made by me] |
Talk
about a #ThrowbackThursday!
Challenger –
30 Years Later
I
can’t even begin to imagine this day, all those years ago. And, all the days
that followed. I’m trying to piece it together – and I still can’t.
From
a young age, racing and story-telling were not my only interests. I loved the
idea of going out and exploring the universe as well. Which was why my first science
project involved the solar system, it was later discarded as “trash” which
really hurt, and also made me despise doing projects. Why do them when they
could be thrown away and discarded?
But,
after Challenger – something changed. I don’t know why. My lack of interest in
science was noted in school records. Though I got good grades, my “lack of
interest” bothered my teachers.
While
I knew the day would get here, something about those “milestone” anniversaries
get to me. The 28th is much overlooked, but when it hits 30th,
it’s pretty much “hard to believe”.
So
too is today.
Today,
for those who weren’t around (or paying attention) is the 30th
anniversary of the Challenger accident/disaster.
By
saying “accident” it diminishes what truly was a historic and yet so
preventable incident for NASA. Calling it a disaster, when compared to other
things, seems wrong too. But, it was – for the time (and now) an
accident/disaster. That disaster would lead to another a few years later near
Las Vegas near the end of sixth (6th) grade.
What’s
life been like in the past 30 years? Interesting, scary, and definitely
memorable.
January 28,
1986
The
day began like any other – that’s about all I know. I was in fourth (4th)
grade at Robert E. Lake elementary and liking “breaking in” a new teacher.
Which, we’d end up going through 4-6 of them that year.
I
remember my grandma telling me about it after she picked me up from school. The
teachers, as I recall, the teachers didn’t want to tell us – it was too
upsetting.
I
get it. But, at age nine (9) – I was already used to death. Sad, but I was.
I
know there were a lot of emotions centering around it. My mother and
grandmother protected me.
Was
that a good thing? I don’t know …
What
I didn’t know (or anyone else) was that an unintended consequence was brewing
from Challenger.
May 4, 1988 –
PEPCON
Flash
forward now two grades, and nearly two and a half (2 ½) years later – 6th
grade. May 4, 1988.
Because
of the “suspension” of the space program, the Pepcon (Pacific Engineering and
Production Company of Nevada) plant in Henderson, Nevada stored the excess
rocket fuel or ammonium perchlorate as they were instructed to by the
government.
“Ammonium
perchlorate is a powerful oxidizer which is mixed with combustible materials to
produce rocket fuels”. (Routely, 1988).
“4,500
tons of the sugar like ammonium perchlorate sat at the plant May 4, 1988, the
day of the explosions. Much of it was in drums and containers, ready for
delivery”. (Rogers, 1998).
According
to the Routely FEMA report, the fire is believed to have begun in a “drying
process structure” between 11:30am and 11:40 am (Pacific Time). Because of a windstorm,
the steel frame with fiberglass walls had been damaged. A welding torch was being
used for repairs. Naturally, the fire spread rapidly in the fiberglass material,
accelerated by ammonium perchlorate residue in the area. The flames spread to
55-gallon plastic drums containing the AP in a storage area.
“The
time between ignition and the first explosion has not been determined exactly;
it was estimated at l0-20 minutes”. (Routely, 1988).
The team at Pepcon abandoned fire control efforts and began evacuating. Two people died. One stayed behind to call the fire department, and another was a wheelchair bound employee who couldn’t leave. The first of the two explosions were in a drum storage area. The second explosion was the largest one – and was the one I likely saw from where I was – which was at school.
“In
addition to the chemicals at the plant, a 16-inch, high-pressure (300 psi) natural
gas transmission line ran underneath the plant and also supplied the plant
through a pressure reducing assembly”. (Routely, 1988). The gas line wasn’t
turned off until 12:59pm according to the report.
“All
told, seven explosions occurred involving various containers of ammonium
perchlorate, with the two largest occurring in the plastic drums and then the
aluminum containers. These two explosions were measured at 3.0 and 3.5 on the
Richter scale at an observatory in California! Over eight million pounds of the
product were consumed in the fire and explosions. A crater estimated at 15 feet
deep and over 200 feet long was left in the storage area”. (Routely, 1988).
Not even the Clark County firefighters could get near it.
Not even the Clark County firefighters could get near it.
“Both
the PEPCON facility and the neighboring marshmallow plant had been destroyed in
the explosions prior to their arrival. The magnitude of the fire in the PEPCON
facility was beyond any fire suppression capability, and flames also were
visible in the rubble of the marshmallow plant. The only hydrants were in the immediate
area of the two involved plants, but there was no water supply due to the loss
of electrical power to the pumps. Recognizing the danger and futility of
operations, no attempt was made to approach or to fight the fire”. (Routely,
1988).
Other
than the two people died that day, over 300 were injured (including fifteen firefighters),
and Boulder Highway looked like a war zone. Some cars, according to Routely’s
report had been blown off the road.
“Witnesses
reported that this explosion created a visible shock wave coming toward them
across the ground”. (Routely, 1988).
The
incident, according to the report, cost close to $100 million in damages. A lot
of us kids were taken out of school early – including myself.
“Investigation
into the event found that the destructive energy from the larger explosion was
roughly equivalent to 1,000 tons of TNT or one kiloton, approximately the same
yield of a tactical nuclear weapon”. (Bellows, 2008).
That
“blast” was another “fall-out” from the Challenger disaster.
The
Pepcon site is now, according to Paul Szydelko of VegasSeven, Wigwam
Parkway and Gibson Road a place I routinely pass five (5) to (6) times per
week. I’m only about three (3) miles north of the site.
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| [I claim no ownership to this. This was taken by a repair crew from Black Mountain in Henderson, NV May 4, 1988] |
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| [I do not own this image. I found it from an article on Vegas Seven's website] |
High Flight
and a Rocket –
In
8th grade (1989-1990) some 3-4 years after the Challenger “accident”
(and 1-2 years after Pepcon) – a science teacher gave me a poster with the poem
“High Flight” on it. It was the poem etched into the Challenger memorial where
some of the astronauts are interred.
 |
| [Poor quality. This was a picture my mom took in 1989-1990 of me holding the poster my 8th grade science teacher gave me] |
 |
| [The poem on the Challenger memorial. I do not own this image. I found it online.] |
 |
| [Front of the memorial. Again, I do not own this image. I found it online.] |
Incidentally,
it was at that time that I started really getting into my writing. I’d spend my
lunch time in the library, on the computer typing away. The stories would become “practice” and
eventually shredded, but it was the start of something.
Anyway ...
Anyway ...
The
teacher wanted to give me hope (about the space program) as I was no longer
interested in science anymore (which was one of my “aptitudes”). Despite having
“promise” in science, I just wanted to walk away from all things “science” and “space”
related.
We
also had a great thing going on that year. The “Rocket Program”. We were given
(or my mom might have bought it through the school) a rocket to paint/design
and on “launch day”, we’d get either the high-powered engine (less chance of
rocket retrieval, potential destruction), or lower powered engine to launch the
rocket (greater chance of rocket retrieval), which would then cause the
nosecone to pop off (it was held together by a rubber connector called a shock cord) and the
parachute would guide it back to us.
 |
| [Not a picture I own. Got this image from the Estes website. This is identical to the rocket I got in 1989-1990] |
 |
| [Got this image from the Estes website. This is identical to the rocket I got in 1989-1990] |
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| [Got this image from the Estes website. These are the "engines" for the rockets like what I built. They're sold on their website.] |
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| [Various "student" rockets. Photo found on the Texas A&M University - Central Texas website] |
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| [Scanned image from PDF "hand-out" on the model rocket flight profile] |
Or
we could opt out … which I did … at first. I had no interest in it. My mom
wouldn’t give up – and I don’t think my teacher wanted to either. She certainly
didn’t want to see me opt out.
I
was, silly as it seemed, afraid of a disaster. Yes, while small – the rocket
engines could cause a disaster. But, my mother and teacher both knew there was
something in me that still wanted that “flight”. Yet, I shied away.
I
don’t remember if the poster caused me to go through with it, or I did it and the
teacher gave me the poster.
All
I know was the program was about to be scuttled because of the kids who wanted
the “A” rockets and something else was going on at the time. I was mad at them. But, not for myself. For
the others who were truly excited about it.
I
reluctantly painted that brown and red rocket in two colors: pink and purple,
and added glitter to it – either for launch or just to have as a souvenir. It
was simple, for me. As the day neared and the “hub-bub” settled – we were
confirmed for “launch”.
I
was lucky enough to get the high powered” rocket.
Launch
day came and for the first time, I was really excited – again. I got to launch
the rocket. No disaster – rocket retrieved and safely back in my hands. I
realized that I had to participate – if only in memory of the Challenger crew.
After the
Rocket and Today –
For
almost 27 years that rocket has been at times babied, lost, forgotten, in
danger of a trash can (mostly because of my grandmother), bent, misplaced – but
always somewhere that it could pop out and say “hi, I’m here”.
A
few years ago, I found it in some storage stuff and sat it in a basket. Today,
thirty (30) years after Challenger, I brought it inside the
house.
I
finally took the time to look at it and remember what Ronald Regan said 30
years ago after the disaster: “The future doesn’t belong to the fainthearted;
it belongs to the brave”.
And,
it brought me back to something else: “our greatest
glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall”.
That
“rocket” reminds me of where I came from (no, not Krypton, lol). And, also what I’ve been
through and who I am. So, it seems fitting that it serves as today’s #TBT picture.
That
rocket won’t see flight again. It’s not “flight worthy”, but that doesn’t mean
that I can’t sit here, look at it, and remember to “dream” when I look at the
stars.
Today,
my dreams no longer center on space or exploration. They center on something
closer to home: writing and telling a story (no not about space or
exploration of it). Another dream is to one day see one of my stories on a
movie or even a TV screen.
But,
I learned that we can’t realize those dreams without getting back up after falling, reaching up,
and giving it another “go”.
Here is the poem:
“Oh,
I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And
danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward
I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds -
and
done a hundred things You have not dreamed of -
wheeled
and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence.
Hovering
there I've chased the shouting wind along
and
flung my eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up,
up the long delirious burning blue
I've
topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,
where
never lark, or even eagle, flew;
and,
while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
the
high untrespassed sanctity of space,
put
out my hand and touched the face of God.”
John
Gillespie Magee, Jr.
References:
Bellows,
A. (2008, September 10). Damn Interesting » The PEPCON Disaster. Retrieved
January 28, 2016, from http://web.archive.org/web/20090217113239/http://www.damninteresting.com//?p=800
Business
Administration. (n.d.). Retrieved January 28, 2016, from https://www.tamuct.edu/departments/aviation/studentactivities.php
Clark
County. (n.d.). Pepcon Explosion. Retrieved January 28, 2016, from http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/fire/Pages/PepconExplosion.aspx
Estes
Rockets. (n.d.). Retrieved January 28, 2016, from http://www.estesrockets.com/
Moyer,
J. (2016, January 28). Exactly the right words, exactly the right way: Reagan’s
amazing Challenger disaster speech. Retrieved January 28, 2016, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/01/28/how-ronald-reagan-explained-the-challenger-disaster-to-the-world-its-all-part-of-taking-a-chance
One
killed, three injured in southern Utah plant explosion. (1997, July 30).
Retrieved January 28, 2016, from http://lasvegassun.com/news/1997/jul/30/one-killed-three-injured-in-southern-utah-plant-ex/
Routely,
J. (1988). Fire and Explosions at Rocket Fuel Plant Henderson, Nevada. Federal
Emergency Management Agency United States Fire Administration National Fire
Data Center. Retrieved January 28, 2016, from http://www.interfire.org/res_file/pdf/Tr-021.pdf
and https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr-021.pdf
Szydelko,
P. (2015, November 19). Remembering the Pepcon Disaster - Vegas Seven.
Retrieved January 28, 2016, from http://vegasseven.com/2015/11/19/remembering-pepcon-disaster/
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